Lower School
This section of the handbook is organized to provide additional information specific to grades PreK-4. Please read over and keep as a reference. If you have further questions, please call the Lower School Office at 651-777-2555.
Principles of Good Practice for Lower School
Elementary education emphasizes the development of the whole child, providing for each child’s social, emotional, physical, and intellectual needs. Elementary programs are developmentally appropriate, in that they are based on an understanding of general patterns of growth in the early years as well as children’s individual development.
- Elementary educators, and all personnel who interact with young children, have appropriate training, understanding, and knowledge regarding the developmental characteristics of this age group.
- Elementary educators recognize that play is the work of young children.
- Elementary educators build on the child’s natural curiosity to promote a love of learning.
- Elementary educators prepare the environment so that children learn through active exploration and discovery.
- Elementary educators recognize the importance of outdoor play and provide appropriate time and equipment.
- Elementary educators design programs that develop the large and small motor skills of young children.
- Elementary educators engage parents as partners in understanding the unique characteristics and needs of young children.
- Elementary educators, in observing and interpreting children’s behavior, use bias-free assessment tools based on developmental norms.
- Elementary educators promote equity and justice by creating a community that fosters respect, understanding, and an appreciation of differences.
Planned Absence Form Mounds Park Academy believes full-time attendance is an essential element in our students’ educational process. Regular attendance fosters a climate conducive to learning, perpetuates effective teaching... |
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The teacher will use the classroom discipline plan, which includes sending a student to the Lower School office where the following procedure will be implemented: First time: The Lower School Administration has a discussion wit... |
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A student in Grades PreK-4 may bring a treat to share with classmates on her/his birthday. Following Health Department guidelines, the treats should be bought and not homemade. We also suggest that it be something individually wra... |
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Students are permitted to use the phone in our Prek-8 Office. Cell phone use is prohibited unless special permission is given by the Lower School Administration. |
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Mounds Park Academy welcomes visits to our school and classrooms by parents, adult relatives, and interested educators. We encourage our community members to volunteer in classrooms and offices when opportunities are prese... |
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Community service is a priority in all grades at MPA. The Lower School cooperates with Middle and Upper School projects and also has its own annual service projects. Individual grades and homerooms also carry out... |
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Formal conferences are scheduled on the school calendar for each fall and winter. This is an opportunity to share your child’s progress as well as to cooperatively set goals. Conferences are scheduled on the hour a... |
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In the Lower School, we use the 7 Cs as our discipline policy: Clear expectations, Consistent follow through, Consequences that are developmentally appropriate and fit the action, Consideration of the age, the act... |
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Childcare is offered before and after school, on most school vacation days during the school year, which are not legal holidays, and during summer break. Students may arrive by 7 a.m. on school days and report to the... |
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Lower School students have an opportunity to participate in some activities outside of the regular school day. Karate, piano lessons, violin lessons, Chinese (K-2) and Mad Science (Grades 1-4) are available on campus fo... |
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Occasional field trips that support the regular curriculum are taken throughout the year by individual classes or grades. Teachers send information home prior to the trip. |
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A parade of Grades PreK-4 begins in the Kindergarten hallway and then back to the classrooms on Halloween day. For safety reasons, children in grades PreK-2 may not wear masks. Students in grades 3-4, being more mature... |
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Students in grades Pre-K through 4 meet weekly with the librarian. K-4 students may check out books and need to return them the following week in order to check out more books. Middle School and Upper School students visit... |
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Lost and found items are kept in the Lower School office. If items are left on the bus/van, students should ask the drivers. Please label all outerwear including uniforms. If a sweater, jacket, etc. is put into lost an... |
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Each year students make the choice of hot or cold lunch. Billing is through the Business Office.Students who take cold lunch do not have the option of eating hot lunch some days and bringing their own lunch on other days. H... |
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Fourth grade students are trained to serve as conflict managers on the playground to help other K-4 students solve problems in a harmonious way through consensus. This method supports the school’s approach to pro... |
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Lower School students are not allowed to have any mechanical devices on campus, including cell phones. |
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Students are required to participate in outdoor recess unless it is raining or the wind chill reaches 10 degrees below zero. It is important that students dress appropriately for the weather. Boots and snow pants are r... |
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Students are permitted to use the phone in our Prek-8 Office. Cell phone use is prohibited unless special permission is given by the Lower School Administration. Arrangements for overnights should be made from hom... |
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General Lower School Rules: 1. Respect – Students show respect for themselves and others and do not use putdowns, fight, or exhibit embarrassing behavior. 2. Language – Students express feelings directly with ... |
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Back-to-School Night is a special evening scheduled in August for the purpose of receiving homeroom assignments, meeting teachers, getting reacquainted with friends, meeting new classmates, and getting an introduction to... |
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Class supply lists are on our Web site under current parents. Students need a paint shirt for use in art class. Generally, old large t-shirts work best for students. |
